- Blood volume increases leading to increased renal blood flow and diuresis
- Body weight returns to normal
-? Hypokalemia if no potassium replacement
Effects on blood volume
- At the time of burn injury, some red blood cells may be destroyed and other damaged,
resulting in anemia
- Despite this the hematocrit may be elevated due to plasma loss
- Blood loss during surgical procedures, wound care, diagnostic studies and ongoing
hemolysis further contribute to anemia
- Blood transfusions are required periodically to maintain adequate hemoglobin levels
for oxygen delivery
- Abnormalities in coagulation, including a decrease in platelets (thrombocytopenia)
and prolonged clotting and prothrombin times occur with burn injury
Pulmonary Alterations
- Inhalation injury is the leading cause of death in fire victims
- Half of these deaths could have been prevented with use of a smoke detector
- Burn victims make it out of a burning home safely
- Once they are outside they may realize that loved ones or valuable items are still
inside the burning home
- They then reenter the burning home and are overcome with toxic smoke and fumes
and become disoriented or unconcious
Pulmonary response
- Pulmonary imjuries fall into several categories, upper airway injury, inhalational
injury, including carbon monoxide poisining, and restrictive defects
- Upper air way injury results from direct heat or edema
- It is manifested by mechanical obstruction of the upper airway, including the pharynx
and larynx
- Upper airway injury is treated by early nasotracheal or endotracheal intubation
- Inhalation injury below the glottis results from inhaling products of incomplete
combustion (Burning) or noxious gases: carbon monoxide, sulfer oxide, nitrogen oxide,
& benzene